News Releases

Vermont Surpasses 200 Businesses Recognized for Green Practices

Over 200 Vermont businesses have been recognized by the Vermont Business Environmental Partnership (VBEP) for their environmental stewardship efforts. The VBEP is a state program that provides assistance to businesses desiring to “green up” their operations and recognizes businesses of all sizes for meeting a set of environmental standards. These standards are posted on the program website (www.vbep.org & www.vtgreenhotels.org). VBEP is a joint program of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Vermont Small Business Development Center that is voluntary and free of cost to participating businesses. Vermont businesses joining the VBEP go beyond compliance with existing environmental regulations, using resource conservation strategies and implementation of environmental best management practices. In addition to attracting customers seeking environmentally responsible businesses, program members can save thousands of dollars a year by reducing energy and water use as well as waste disposal costs. They benefit from the operational advice and knowledge of VBEP representatives.

The VBEP program that started in 1998 now has 109 Green Hotels, 12 Green Restaurants, 4 Clean Marinas, 3 Green Links golf courses, 69 general sector business Environmental Partners, and 5 Environmental Leaders. All of these businesses have implemented a variety of environmental best management practices including energy and water conservation measures, waste reduction and recycling, environmentally preferable or green purchasing, and formation of environmental teams to continually improve environmental performance.

Participating businesses are listed on the VBEP web site and are encouraged to identify themselves as Vermont Business Environmental Partners with the program logo at their businesses and on their websites. More information on the program can be found at: www.vbep.org.